Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Allen, TX
VS
Irvine, CA
🏆 Allen leads 12 of 22 categories
Allen
Texas
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$121,259
Violent Crime Index
28
Population
105,444
Irvine
California
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$122,948 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
22 ✓ Safer
Population
304,527 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Allen, TX
Pros
Homes cost $636k less ($390,200 vs $1,025,700)
Rent averages $1002/mo less ($1,747 vs $2,749)
Violent crime is well below the national average (106.4 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.2 pts lower (4.3%)
12% cheaper overall cost of living than Irvine
Smaller class sizes — 16.2:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Irvine, CA
Pros
Violent crime is well below the national average (84.0 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 70.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 56°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 85°F vs 95°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $1,025,700
Higher rents — median is $2,749/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Cost of living runs 12% higher than Allen
Key Differences at a Glance
Allen
Cost of Living
12% cheaper
COL index 103.3 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Allen
Median Home Value
$636k less
$390,200 vs $1,025,700
Allen
Unemployment
1.2 pp lower
4.3% vs 5.5% unemployment
Allen
Summer Heat
9.9°F warmer
July avg high 95.0°F vs 85.1°F
Irvine
Median Income
$1,689
$122,948 vs $121,259/yr
Irvine
Violent Crime
21% lower
84.0 vs 106.4 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Allen, TX | Irvine, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.3⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $390,200⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,025,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,747⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,749⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $121,259 | $122,948 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.0 min | 24.3 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 21.4% | 23.1% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 34 ✓ Safer | 40 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 28 | 22 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 42 ✓ Safer | 66 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (125) ✓ Better | B+ (107) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.2:1 ✓ Smaller | 26.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 55.2% | 70.0% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 95.8% | 96.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | ALLEN ISD | Irvine Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 55.5°F | 67.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 95.0°F ✓ Warmer | 85.1°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 40.8" | 14.1" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 2.6" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 105,444 | 304,527 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.8 ✓ Older | 33.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 70.9% ✓ Higher | 43.9% |
| Under 18 | 25.9% ✓ More | 21.8% |
| Over 65 | 10.4% | 10.4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Allen's cost of living index is 103.3 vs Irvine's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Allen is 12% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Allen leads 12 of 22 categories. Allen wins 12 and Irvine wins 10. The right choice depends on your priorities — use the Pros & Cons and full table above to weigh what matters to you.
Whether you're moving from Allen to Irvine or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($390,200 vs $1,025,700 median home), income ($121,259 vs $122,948), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Allen, TX and Irvine, CA are about 1,216 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.